Virat Kohli is known around the world for his cricketing achievements, intense personality and remarkable consistency on the field. His personal life has also attracted enormous attention, particularly after his relationship and marriage with Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma.

But there was another Bollywood actress who reportedly caught Kohli’s attention long before his relationship with Anushka.

According to reports citing an old interview, Karisma Kapoor was Virat Kohli’s first Bollywood crush.

Who Was Virat Kohli’s First Crush?

Long before Kohli became one of the biggest names in world cricket, he was a young Delhi boy growing up during an era when Karisma Kapoor was among Bollywood’s most popular stars.

Reports have repeatedly cited Kohli’s older interview in which he revealed that Karisma Kapoor was his first love or childhood crush.

Karisma was one of the most recognisable faces of Hindi cinema during the 1990s. After making her Bollywood debut with Prem Qaidi in 1991, she went on to become one of the leading actresses of the decade.

For a young Kohli growing up during that period, the actress was reportedly his Bollywood favourite.

Before the Cricket Superstar

Today, Virat Kohli is recognised as one of India's most successful cricketers. However, his childhood ambitions were remarkably focused on cricket.

A scrapbook from his childhood, discussed by his former coach and childhood friends in an RCB feature, reportedly showed that Kohli had already written down his ambition of becoming an Indian cricketer around 2002–03.

His cricketing dream eventually became reality, while his childhood Bollywood crush remained a fun piece of trivia about his early years.

What About Anushka Sharma?

Virat Kohli’s relationship with Anushka Sharma began many years after his childhood crush.

The two became one of India's most followed celebrity couples and eventually married in 2017.

Their relationship has often attracted significant media attention, but it is important to distinguish Kohli’s reported childhood crush from his later relationship with Anushka Sharma.

The Karisma Kapoor story refers to his reported childhood Bollywood admiration, while Anushka became his real-life partner years later.

Karisma Kapoor Was a 1990s Bollywood Icon

Karisma Kapoor's popularity during the 1990s helps put Kohli’s childhood crush into context.

She became known for films such as Raja Hindustani, Coolie No. 1, Hero No. 1, Judwaa and Biwi No. 1, among several other successful projects.

Her combination of screen presence, popularity and memorable performances made her one of the biggest Bollywood stars of her generation.

It is therefore hardly surprising that she could have been the celebrity crush of a young cricket fan growing up during that era.

Kohli Also Has a Strong Connection With Football

Interestingly, cricket was not the only sport that fascinated Kohli during his younger years.

In an interview with FIFA, Kohli revealed that he started playing football when he was around six or seven years old and enjoyed playing it in parks and during cricket-team warm-ups. He also spoke openly about his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo.

He later became a co-owner of FC Goa, reflecting his long-standing interest in football.

So while cricket ultimately became Kohli’s profession and defining passion, his childhood interests extended beyond the cricket field.

From Childhood Dreams to Global Stardom

Kohli's journey from a young Delhi cricketer to an international sporting icon has been extraordinary.

His childhood ambition was to represent India, and he eventually achieved that dream at the highest level. The BCCI has also documented how Kohli's early World Cup experiences shaped his approach to the game and gave him greater confidence.

Today, his name is associated with records, international cricket and one of India's most recognisable sporting careers.

And somewhere in that journey is a rather entertaining piece of trivia: before becoming one of the world's most famous cricketers, Virat Kohli reportedly had a Bollywood crush on Karisma Kapoor.

Virat Kohli's first reported Bollywood crush was Karisma Kapoor, according to older reports citing his interview.

It was long before he met Anushka Sharma and long before Kohli became the global cricket superstar fans know today.

From dreaming of playing for India as a child to becoming one of cricket's biggest names, Kohli's story has had plenty of memorable chapters — and his childhood Bollywood crush is certainly one of the more light-hearted ones.